Well, do something! Top tips towards ending procrastination

Are you in the grip of Mondayitis? Well, snap out of it. Taking the bull by the horns on a Monday will set the tone for the rest of the week. Here are seven tips to help you stop procrastinating and start charging.

1. Take control of your emails

Amanda Bennetts, chief executive of Bennetts Wide Calf Boots, says she's most likely to procrastinate when she opens her email account. "I normally have more than 50 emails I need to attend to when I open my mail and at times I feel overwhelmed," she says. "My tip for this situation is to go through and delete anything that's not important - for instance ads and newsletters - and green flag anything I have to get back to."

2. Become a list maker

Business consultant Amanda Rose's top tip is to make a to-do list on a weekly and nightly basis. "This will give you a sense of direction and also help prioritise what you need to do," she says.

3. Break up your work

Anthea Cahill, founder of online tea business RealChai, suggests breaking up your work day into small parts. "You don't have to have all the pieces of the puzzle figured out; you just need to take small steps. It's the first step that has the biggest impact."

4. Face your fears

Business coach Narelle Lee says asking yourself why you're afraid of acting is an important step to overcoming procrastination. "Sometimes by articulating the fear, and looking at just how unfounded it is, is enough to move forward."

5. Get help

Pilates coach Kim Paxton says if procrastination is affecting your life consider getting professional help. And: "Delegate, delegate, delegate."

6. Set up systems

Joshua Uebergang, marketing manager of e-commerce business Online Visions, advises: "Set up systems that prevent you from procrastinating. A system can be any external control to hold you to your important tasks, such as a deadline.

7. Plan procrastination time

Everyone needs some down time, so schedule time when you're not expected be on fire.